Hoisting and weighing means



Oct. 16, 1928. 1,687,894

- H. F. RUGGLES I HOISTING AND WEIQHING MEANS Filed Feb. 15, 1923 3 Sheets- Sheet 1 r 7 52, L6! i l 5:7 58 INVENTOR Oct. 16; 1928.

H. F. RUGGLES HOISTING AND WEIGHING MEANS Filed Feb. 15, 1923 s Sheets-Sheet 2 i1 "EN TOR 64 ATTORNEY H. F. RUGGLES HOISTING AND WEIGHING MEANS Oct. 16, 1928.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 15, 1923 [44 gfiwvemok BY 45 44101 ATTORNEY Patented et; 16, 19238. e

' mars HORACE F RUGGLES, or BROOKLYN, new YORK.

Application fiiedl'sebruary 15, 1923. Serial No. 619,164.

This invention relates generally to weigh ing devices or scales,and relates particularly to weighing devicesof that kind or class which are embodied in and form a feature of cane hoisting and weighing apparatus. In

such apparatus, a cart load of cane is hoisted from the cart, weighed while'hoisted, traversed while hoisted, and dumped into a railway car standing alongside the cart. In a form of such apparatus commonly heretofore employed, a framework forms a tower having uprights forming legs between which the cart, upon which the cane is brought in from the field, and a railway car, upon which the cane is to be loaded for transportation, may stand side by side, the upper ends of the legs being connectedjtog'ether by one or more transverse ove'rheadbeams, the tower structure or framework further including suitable braces. A floating weighing platform is suspended at each of its corners by means oflinks connected at thelr upper ends to substantially horizontal armsof weight-transmitting levers having also upstanding arms. These horizontal lever-arms all project or extend in the same direction longitudinally of the plat form, and the upstanding lever-arm of each lever at one end of the platform is connected by a link with the upstanding; lever-arm of the lever at the same side and other end of theplatform, so that the pair of levers atone end of the platform rock in unison with the pair of levers at the other end of the platform. Thelevers at one end of the platform are connected by means of links to a scale (including a weigh-beam) at the foot offthe tower. for this purpose the latter levers being provided with additional substantially horizontalflarms projecting oppositely to their platform-connected arms, so that the levers at one end of theplatform are"three-armed levers while those at the other end of the platform are two-armed or bell-crank ev s. All the above-noted levers carry knife-edges which fulcrum upon horizontal fulcrum surfaces on brackets or hearing stands mounted on the top of the tower, means, for example, forks or other upright portions on the brackc ts, being provided to prevent the knife edges from sliding off the bearing surfaces on the brackets.

In operation. the downward strain upon the fulcra of the lovers. including the weight of the ilatforni and the hoisted load. is sustained by the fulcrum bearings provided by the knife-edges and'fulcrum surfaces of the bearing stands. However, there is a lateral or horizontal strain upon the fulcra of the levers, by reason of the lateral or horizontal strain upon their upstanding leverarms, through the horizontal li nks which connect these arms] In practice it has been found that the horizontal strain upon the fulcra of the levers tends to dislodge the knife-edges, causing them to jump or slide upon the fulcrum surfaceson the bearing stands or brackets, so'that the knife-edges are soon blunted and must bere placed. In the above noted apparatus, the

horizontal strain upon the fulcra of the .weight-transmitting levers at all times acts as a brake to impalr accuracy in weighing,

and the accuracy is much further impaired when the sharpness of the knife-edges has been destroyed. he object of this invention is to eliminate the above noted difficulties in cane hoisting and weighing apparatus, and also in other scales or weighing'devices where similar difficulties may exist.

According to this invention, a for each weight-transmitting lever subject to separate strains in different directions uponits fulcrum, separate knife-edge fulcrum bearings are provided to receive the separate strains, the knife-edges of the separate knife-edge bearings being disposed in alignment along a common fulcrum axis. More particularly,

in embodying the invention in a cane hoistingand weighing-apparatus such as above noted, or in similar embodiments of the invcntion, a knifeedge fulcriun bearing is providedto receive the downward strain upon the weight-transmitting lever and a separate knife-edge fulcrum bearing is provided to receive the lateral or horizontal strain upon the lever. The inventionfurther includes fea-- tures of construction and combinations of parts, as will hereinafter appear; Reference will now be had to the accompanyiu drawings. Fig.1 is a side elevation of a cane hoisting and weighing apparatus embodying the present invention: i 2 is an end elevation as viewed from the right in 1, with parts omitted;

3 is an enlarged elevation of the three; armed weigilt-transmitting lever, and the bearing stand or fulcrum bracket therefor,

as seen at the top and right in Fig. 1 and als shown in Fig. 2 at the top and left;

so v

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Figs. 5 and 6;

Fig. 5 is an elevation as viewed from the right in Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line (5 6 of Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. '4' is a view similar to Fig. 3 of one of the weigilt-transmitting, bell-crank levers and. its bearing stand or fulcrum bracket, shown at the .top and left in Fig.1; and

Fig. Sis an elevation as viewed from the left in Fig. 7. Y

The general construction and operation, as a whole, of the complete cane hoisting and weighing device or apparatus, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, will first need to be described, in order that the embodiment therein of the present invention may be understood.

It is desired to lift or hoist the cane from a field cart 1, weigh it and transfer it to a waiting railway ca 2 standing alongside the cart. The load of cane 3 is encircled by usual sling-chains 4, each of which is provided with a releasable trip-hook 5, which, wh n the load 3 is to be dumped with the car 2, is released by a-pull upon the free end portion 6 of the chain 4. The sling-chains 4 are arranged along and carried by a sling-beam 7, provided at each end with a pulley block 8 in which is journaled a pulley 9.

v A tower-forming framework stands over and bestrides the cart 1 and car 2 and comprises a pair of leg-forming uprights 10 outwardly from the outer side of the car 2, a similar pair of leg-forming uprights 11 outwardly from the outer side of the cart 1, a pair of transverse tie-beams 12 connecting the upper ends of the uprights 10, a similar pair of tie-beams 18 connecting the upper ends of the other uprights 11, a pair of over head side beams 14 tying together the ends of the pairs of transverse beams 12 and 13, angle braces 15 bet-ween the overhead side beams 14 and the corresponding uprights, and inclined ground braces 16 for the uprights.

A floating overhead weighing platform 17 is carried bypthe tower or framework by means involving the present invention and hereinafter to be described. The weighing platforml? compr s longitudinal beams 18 and cross-beams 19, and is strengthened by truss-rods 20. Longitudinal swaying of the suspended weighing platform 17 is prevented by means of usual drag links 21 which connect the platform to the framework. Trackaails 22 are laid along the longitudinal beams 18 of the platform and terminate at stop-blocks A truck 24 has a. front'arle 25 and a rear axle 26 upon which are mounted, respectively. a pair of front track-wheels 27 and a pair of rear track-wheels 28.

v A. pair of hoisting cables 29 may be drawn upon by means of any suitable source of power, such a draft animal, an electric motor, or a hoisting engine, which may be a steam engine or of the internal combustion type. The hoisting cables 29 pass from the source of power over pulleys 30 on the ends of a shaft 31 mounted in brackets 32 on a cross beam 33 extending between the up rights 10. The cables 29 extend horizontally to the other end of the platform 17, adjacent the uprights 11, and pass upwardly over pulleys 34 on a shaft 35 mounted in hangers or brackets 36 on the longitudinal beams .18 of the weighing platform 17. From the pulleys 34 the cables 29 pass laterally at an upward inclination over a pair of pulleys 37 on the rear truck-axle 26, thence downwardly around the hereinbefore mentioned pulleys 9 on the sling-beam 7, thence upwardly over a pair of pulleys 38 on the front truck-axle 25, and thence laterally towards the right, as viewed in Fig. 1., to points adjacent the end of the platform 17, where the end of the cables are secured to anchor-blocks 89 which are fixed upon the longitudinal beams 18.

lVhen the load of cane 3 has been hoisted, as shown in Fig. 1, weighed by means yet to be described, and traversed beneath the platform 17 to a position above the car 2, as indicated in roken lines in Fig; '1, it is, pref ably after being lowered somewhat, dumped into the car 2, by releasing the slip-hooks 5, a 'hereinbcfore described. When the load 3is traversed, the truck 24 travels along the track rails 22, and in the particular apparatus shown in the drawings this traversing of the load 3, and the return of the empty slings, may be accomplished manually by means of a rope 40 depending from the sling-beam 7.

The floating weighing platform 17 suspended at each of its corners. At the left end of the platform, as viewed in Figure 1, brackets 41 are secured upon the longitudinal beams 18, and similar brackets 42 are secured upon the beams 18 at the other end of the platform. At the left end of the weighing platform a pair of suspension links 43 are pivoted at their ends to the brackets 41, and similar pair of suspension links 44 are pivoted at their lower ends to the brackets 42.

Upon the top of and at the left end of the framework or tower, as viewed in Fig. 1. a pair of bearing stands or fulcrum brackets 45 are mountd upon the tie-beams 12. Upon each of the bearing nds 45 is fulcrumed a weight-ti'ansn'iitt-ing bell-crank lever 46 havin a long vertically upstanding arm 47 and a short substantially horizontal weight-earlying arm 48. which projects towards the left seen in Fig. 1, and to the end of which the upper end of the corresponding suspension link 4?) is pivoted. The axis of the fulcrum of each of the bell-crank levers 47 is transverse to the length of the tower and weighing platform 17.

At the other or right end of the tower, as viewed in Fl 1, a pair of bearing stands or arm projecting towards the correspondingbell-crank lever 46, and the arm 53 is a somewhat longer scale-connected arm. The upper end of the corresponding suspensionlink 44 is pivoted to the end of the weight-carrying lever-arm 52.

The upper of each three-armed lever is'connected to the upper end of the upstanding arm 47 of the bell-crank lever 46 at the same side of the platforml? by a long horizontal link 54, so that the portion of the weight of the load 3 borne by the left end of the platform 17, as viewed in Fig. 1, will be transmitted by the bell-crank levers 46 to the three-armed levers 50, and thence, through the scale-connected arms 53, to the weiglrbeanrof the scale, while the portion of the weight of the load 3 borne by'the right end of the platform 17 will be transii'iitted directly from the Weight-carrying arms 52 of the three-armed levers 50 to the scale-coi inected arms 53 thereof.

Long vertical links 55 and 56, are pivoted at their upper ends, respectively, to the ends of the lever-arms 53 of the three-armed levers 50, these links 55 and 56 extending to the foot of the tower where they are connected to a weighing scale, which maybe of any suitable construction. is the apparatus shown in the drawings, the lower end of the link 55 is connected to the shorter of an intermediate lever or extension lever 57 of the first order which is pivotally anchored or fulcrumed at 58, and

the longer arinof the lever 57 is connected at 59 to an intermediate pointon the longer arm of another intermediate or extension lever 60 of the first order, pivotally anchored or fulcruined at 60 and to the shorter arm of which the lower end of. the other long vertical link 56 is connected. The longer arm of the second intermediate l ver 60 is connected at 61 to an intermediate point on a third lever 62, one

end of which is fiiicriimed at 6-3 and the other end of which is connected bya link 64 to a weigh-beam 65, forming a lever of the first order, fulcrunied at 66.

The cane hoisting and weighing appara tus, to the extent that it has thus far been d scribed, is of a construction heretofore known and used; and the present invention as embodied therein, and now to be described,

relates to the fincra ofthe weight-transmit ting bell-crank levers 46 and of the weighttraiisimtting three-armed levers-50.

Obviously there is a downward strain upon end of the upstanding armr5 l when the load is nearer to the right end oi indicated in broken lines iii the fulcra ofthe levers 46 and 50 due to the wei 'ht of the wei hine' platform 17 and the ta C Q Weight of the load 3 suspended from and carried by the platform, this strain coming upon the weigh -carrying lever arms 48- and 52 of the pairs of levers 46 and 50, the distribution of the weight ofthe load 3 between the pair of levers 46 and the pair of terminedby the position of the load 3 along the weighing platforn'i 17, for example, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, or as there indicated in broken lines. Furthermore, there is a further downward strain on the fulcra of the pa-i'rot' three-armed levers 50, due tothe reaction caused by the upward pull of their scale-connected arms 53011 the long vertical links 55 and 56, regardless of the proportion of the weight of the load respective pairs of levers46 and 50.

However, in. addition to the downward strain on the fulcra of the levers 46 and 50, there is a lateral or horizontal strain upon the fulcra of the level-s46 and 50, due to the weight-transmitting pull of the upstanding lever-arms 4?, of the bell-crank levers 46, upon the long horizontal links 54. 'inc pull of the links 54 upon the upstandin ,leverarms 51 of the three-armed levers 50 tends to displace these levers at their fulcra horizontally towards the left as viewed in 1; and, since action and reaction are equal, the links exert a corresponding pail upon the levers 50 being deupstanding lever-arms 47 of the bell-cranklevers 46 which tends to dis lace these latter levers at their fulcra horizontally towards the load 3 along the weighing platform however, the downward strain upon era of the three-armed levers 50 will remain substantially the same regardless of the no i tion of the load, while the horizontal s on the fuicra of the three-armed leve will vary, being greater when the loan nearer the left end of the platform 14 shown in full lines in 1, andbeing platform Fig. 1. 3

The recoil of the structure when the load is released develops stresses and strains which cause tendency to s 1 ft the knife edges on their bearing surfaces ivliicl'i tendency is counteracted by the structure the knife edge bearings provided.

According to the present invention, each ot the weight-tinnsinitting levers 4'6 aud 50 provided with a knife-edge fulcrum ing to receive the downward strain u fulcrum, and is further provider, with separate knife-edge fulcrum bearing to; ceivc the lioriontal'strum upon its fulcru 1, these separate knife-edge fulcrum bearings i- Elli-- being so constructed and arranged that each may actfreely in cooperation with the other.

Reference will first be had to the threearined weight-transmitting levers 50, one of which, together with its fulcrum bracket or hearing stand i9, is particularlv illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive. The fulcrum bracket has a transverse fulcrum-bar 6? and at each end of the fulcrum-bar 67 has upstanding fulcrum-lug G8. The fulcrumbar 67 is provided with a hard in u or countersunk removable and replaceable horizontal fulcrum-plate or fulcrum-bloc 69 which presents a plane horizonta. fulcrum surface which lies in the 5 plane of the fulcrum aizis. Each 1 a ing fulcrunnlug G8 is provided with a hard vertically and transversely arranged fulcrum-plate or fulcrun'nhlocl: '50 which is removably and replaceably countersunk and dovetailed into the lug so as to present a plane transversely extending vertical fulcrum surface, directed towards the scale-c nnected lever arm 58 of the three-a d lever 50. The fulcrum surfaces of the fulcrumplates 70 lie in the vertical p. ne of the l crum axis. The horizontal fulcrum surr of the fulcrun'i-plate 69 lies betwe' ii aligned vertical fulcrum surfaces of t crum-plates 70, so that a common versely extending horizontal fulcrum provided along a line determined by secting of the horizontal plane of the crum surface of the fulcrum-plate 69 the vertical plane of the fulcrum thefulcrum plates 70.

A hard removable and replaceable knifeedg'e block or plate 71 is carried by the threearmcd lever 50 being vertically and tra ns versely arranged in line with the upstanding lever-arm 51 and with its knife-edge projecting downwardly to fulcrum upon the horizontal fulcrum surface of the horizontal fulcrum-block 69. The knife-edge blOCK 71 is. mounted for vertical sliding adjustment, and is shown as container snugly but slidably in a downwardly opening slot provided by a socket part Z 2 on the lever 50. The knife-edge block 71 may be forced dew wardly by a pair of thrust screws 73 threaded through the top wall of the socket 7 and may be moved upwardly by retracting the screws The two screws 73, one adjacent each end of the knife-edge block 71 at opposite sides of the upstanding lever-arm 52, provide for bringing the knife-ed;c;e, throughout its len gth, intoalignment with the fulcrum axis. After the knife-edge block '2' 1 has been adusted it is secured firmly in place in the socket 72, against possibility of displacement, by means of a pair of set screws or clamp screws 74!: threaded through one of the side walls of the socket 72, one being shown at each side of the weig-lit-carrying lever-arm The three-armed lever 50 is provided with a pair of sockets 75, shown as formed in the some piece therewith, one at each side of the scale-connected lever arm 58, and each having therein a horizontal slot opening inwardly or towards the vertical fulcrum surface of the corresponding vertically arranged fulcrumblock TO. A hard horizontally arranged removable and replaceable knife-edge block 76 is snugly but slidably contained in the slot of each cfthe sockets 7 5 with its knife-edge projecting inwardly to abut against and fulcrum upon the vertical fulcrum surface of the corresponding fulcrum-block TO. A thrust screw 7'? is threaded through the outer wall. of each socket 75, to slide the knife-edge blocks 70 inwardly, and permitting them to he slid outwardly when these screws are retracted. By means of the thrust screws 77 the knifee of the horizontal knife-edge blocks ay be adjusted into alignment with the fulcrum axis. After the horizontally slidable knife-edge blocks 7 6 have been adjusted they are firmly secured against displacement by means of set screws or clamp screws 78 threaded throughone of the side walls of each of the sockets Y5, and shown as passing downwardly through the upper wall.

By adjusting; the vertically slidable knife edge plates on block 71 in a vertical direction and by adjusting the horizontally slidable knife-edge plates on blocks 76 horizontally, the knife-edge of the vertical block 71 an d the knife-edges of the horizontal blocks 76 may be brought to a. common horizontal fulcrum az-zis, so that thereby by reason of the horizontal adjustment.- of the knife-edges of the horial blocks 76, the knife edges of the vertical block 71 will fulcrum upon the horizontal fulcrum surface of the fulcrum block 69 in line with the vertical fulcrum surfaces of the fulcrum blocks 70, and, by reason of the vertical adjustment of the knife-edge of the vertical block 71, theknife-edges of the horizontal blocks 76 will fulcrum upon the vertical fulcrum surfaces of the fulcrum-blocks 70 in line with the horizontal fulcrum surface of the fulcrumblock69.

The horizontal fulcrum-lock 69 and the ical knife-edge block 71 together form a in ddle weight-carrying knife-edge fi' l un'i hearing- 3 to receive the downward strain one to :he weight of the load 3 the weighing platform 17 and its adjuncts. This holds true regrardless of the position of the loan 3 along?- he platform 17 that is to say, regardless of Le portion of the weight of the load susained by the weight-carr vin5r lovci arins of the three-armed levers 50, through the suspension links 4.4, or by the weiaht-carryinsr lovenarms il-7 of the bell-crank levels a, through the suspension links 453, and transmitted fi'on'i the bell-crank lever-t l6, by means of the horizontal links 54; to the l'lll'l0-fll'lll(. l levers 50. The knifmedgc fulcrum hearing-s formed by the fulcrum-blocks 6'9 and knife- Ill) 7 tion of the combined strains or resultant force,

the bell-crank lever 46.

edge blocks71also receive the downward strain due to the downward reaction ofthe lever-arms 53 in their upward pull on the scale-connected links 55 and 56,.regardless of how the weight of; the load 3 may be d1v1ded Y between the three-armedlevers 50 and. bellcrank levers 4-6. Y

The vertical fulcrum-blocks and the I horizontal knife-edge blocks 7 6 together form a separated part knife-edg fulcrum bearing to receivetlie lateral or horizontal strain upon the fulcra of the three-armed'levers 50, due to the horizontal pull of the long horizontal links 54: upon their upstanding lever-arms 51.

This horizontal strain will vary depending.

upon the position of the load 3 alongthe weighing platform 17, and will correspondingly vary relatively to the downward strain.

Therefore the resultant force of the two strains will sometimes be exerted in one direction and sometimes in another, at varying angles between the vertical and horizontal, but in view of the'fact that the horizontal strain and the downwardstrain are borne independently or separately' by separate knifeable knife-edge block 8 to fulcrum at its knife-edge up'onthe upper surface of the fulcrum block 80, and, at each endof the socket 83 and at the sides of the horizontal lever-arm 48, has a socket 85, each of thesocket's85 con-w taining a ho 'izontally slidable knife-edge block 86, to fulcrum at its knife-edge upon the vertical fulcrum surface of the fulcrum block .82. A Pa r of thrust-screws 87 provide" for vertical adjustment of the knife-edge block 84, which may be fiXedin position by means of a pair of set-screws or clamp-screws 88. "A. thrust screw 89 for eachof the knifeedge blocks 86 provides for its horizontal ad justment, and it may be clamped in place by mea s of a set screw 90. The middle fulcrum bearing provided by the horizontal fulcrumblock SO'and vertical knife-edge block 84 receives the downward strain or weight which comes upon the horizontal lever-arm 48 fromthe connection thereto of the platform-com nected suspension link 43. The separatedpart fulcrum bearing, provided by the vertical fulcrum blocks 82 and horizontal knife-' edge blocks 86, receives the lateral; or horizontal strain due to the pull of the upstanding lever-arm l'l upon the long horizontal lever connecting link 54.

the horizontal strains upon the fulcra of the bell-Crank levers 46 will vary, depending upon the position of the load 3 along the weighing platform 17 Y f lVhat I claim is: Y Y

l. In a weighing device or scale,in combination a weight transmitting lever having a substantiallyhorizontal arm and a substantially vertical arm, a knife-edge fulcrum bearingto receive. downward strain upon the horizontal lever-arm, and a separate knifeedge fulcrum bearing to receive horizontal str in upon the vertical lever-arm, the fulcrum edges of said knife-edge bearings being in axial alignment.

2. In a weighing deviceorfscale, in combinati on, a wei ghfltransmitting lever having oppositely-directed substantially horizontal arms and a substantially vertical arm "and subject to relatively variable vertical and horizontal strains upon itsfulcrum, a knifeedge fulcrum bearing to receive the vertical strain, and a separate' knife-edge fulcrum bearing to receive the horizontal strain, the Y I I i n I fulcrum edges of saldknife-edge bear ngs bee ing'in axial alignment.

v 3. In a Weighing device'or scale, incombination, a weight transmitting lever-subject to separate strains in different directions upon its fulcrum, separate knife-edge ful-' crum bearings, to receive .7 said separate strains, and means providing for adjusting the knife-edges of said bearin s to bring said D knife-edges into ax1al alignment. Y

4. In a weighing device or scale, in 'combination, a weight-transmitting lever. having a substantially i horizontal fulcrum subject to vertical strains and to transverse horizontalstrains, a knife-edge fulcrum bearing to The downward and receive the vertical strain, a separate kniferedge fulcrum bearing to receive the horizonA tal strain, and means prov1d1ngforadjusting the knife-edges of sa d hearings to bring said knife-edgesinto axial alignment. 1

-5. Ina weighing device orscale, in combination, a weight-transmitting lever having a substantially horizontal arm and a substantially vertical arm, a'knife-edge fulcrum bearing to receive downward strain upon the horizontal lever-arm, a. separate knife edge fulcrum bearing to receive horizontal strain Y upon the vertical lever-arm, and means'pro-f vi-ding for adjusting the'knife-e'dges of saidbearings to-bring said knife-edges into axial alignment. i V

6. In a Weighing device or scale, incombination', a weighttransmittingleverhaving 0ppositely directed substantially horizontal arms and a substantially verticalfarm and sub]ect to relatively variable-vertical and horizontal strains lupon itsfulerum, a knife edge fulcrum'bearing to receive the vertical edges into axial alignment.

7. In a weighing device or scale, in combination, a weight-transmitting lever subject to separate strains in different directions upon its fulcrum, separate knife-edge fulcrum bearings to receive said separate strains, each of said knife-edge bearings comprising a fulcrum-block having a fulcrum surface and a knife-edge block to fulcrum at its knife-edge upon the fulcrum surface of the fulcrrunblock, and means providing for adjusting the knife-edge blocks to bring their knife-edges into axial alignment.

8. In a weighing device or scale, in combination, a weight-transmittinglever having a substantially horizontal fulcrum subject to vertical strain and to horizontal strain, a knife-edge fulcrum bearing to receive the vertical strain, a separate knife-edi s fulcrum bearing to receive the horizontal strain, each of said knife-edge bearings comprising a fulcrum-block having a fulcrum surface and a knife-edge block to fulcrum at its knife-edge upon the fulcrum surface of the fulcrumbloclgand means providing for adjusting the vknife-edgeblocks to bring their knife-edges into axial alignment.

9. In a weighlng device or scale, in combinatlon, a weight-transnntting lever having a substantially horizontal arm and a substantially vertical arm, a knife-edge fulcrum bearing to receive downward strain upon the horizontal lever-arm, a separate knifeedge fulcrum bearing to receive horizontal strain upon the vertical lever-arm, each of said knife-edge' bearings comprising a fulcrum-block having a fulcrum surface and a knife-edge block to fulcrumat its knif -edge upon the fulcrum surface of the-fulcrumbloclr, and means providing for adjusting the knifeedge blocks to bring their knife-edges into axial alignment.

10. In a weighing device or scale, com-,

bination, a weight-transmitting.lever having oppositely-directed substantially horizontal arms and asubstantially vertical arm and subject to relatively variable vertical and horizontal strains upon its fulcrum, a knifeedge fulcrum bearing to receive the vertical strain, a separate knife-edge fulcrum bear ing toreceive the horizontal strain, each of said knife-edge bearings comprising a fulcrum-block having afulcrum surface and a knife-edge block to fulcrum at its knifeedge upon the fulcrum surface of the fulcrumblock, and means providing for adjusting the knife-edge blocks to bring their knife-edges into axial alignment.

"11, In a weighing device or scale, in combination, a weight-transmitting lever subject to separate strains in different directions upon its fulcrum, separate knife-edge fulcrum hearings to receive said separate strains, each of said knife-edge bearings comprising a fulcru1n-block having a fulcrum surface and knife-edge block to fulcrum at its lrnife-ed 'e upon the fulcrum surface of the -block, each knife-edge block bej eliuably mounted for adjustment to bring the knife-edges of l the knife-edge blocks into axial alignment, thrust screws to slide the knife-edge blocks for bringing their knife-edges into axial alignment, and clamp screwsto hold the adjusted knife-edge blocks against displacement.

12. In a weighing device or scale, in combination, a weight-transmitting lever having a substantially horizontal fulcrum subject to vertical strain and to horizontal strain, a l-cnife-edge fulcrum bearing to receive the vertical strain, a separate knife-edge fulcrum bearing to receive the horizontal strain, each said knife-ed bearings comprising a fulun-bloclz having a fulcrum surface and a i: ife-edge block to fulcrum at its knife-edge upon the fulcrum surface of the fulcrumbloclr, each knife-edge block being slidably mounted for adjustment to bring the knifeedges of the knife-edge blocks into axial alignment, thrust screws to slide the knife-edge bloc-lie inward for bringing their knifeedges into axialalignment, and clamp screws to hold the adjusted knife-edge blocks in place.

13. In a weighing device or scale, in combination, a weight-transmitting lever having a substantially horizontal arm and a substan 'tially vertical arm, a lrnifeedge fulcrumbearto receive downward strain upon the horizontal lcvenarm, a separate knife-edge fulcrum bearing to receive horizontal strain upon the verticallever-arm,each ofsaidknifeedge bearings comp ising a fulcrum-block havinna fulcrum surface and a knife-edge block to fulcrum at its knife-edge upon the fulcrum surface of the fulcrum-blocl each knife-edge block being slidably mounted for radial a iustment to bring the knife-edges of into axial alignment, screws to lide the knife-edge blocks inward for bring g' their knife-edges into axial nine-at, d clamp screws to hold the adj aster, knife-edge blocks in place.

l hln a Weigliing device or scale, in combination, a weight-transmitting lever having oppositely-dirccted substantially. horizontal arms and a s abstantially'vertical arm and subivel y variable vertical and horizonta strains upon its fulcrum, a knife-edge fulcr n beari o to receive the vertical strain, i separate in e-edge fulcrum bearing to receive the horizontal strain, each of said l-zni'le edge bearings comprising a fulcrum-block knife-edge blocks "ust having a Lure-rum surface and a knife-c '0 IOU radial adjustment to hringcthe. knife-edges of the knife-edge blocks into axial alignmenn thrust screws to slide the knife-edge blocks inward, and'clamp screws to hold edge blocks in place;-

15. In a weighing dev1ce,.or

the knifescale, in combination a weiehttransmittin lever havin a substantially horizontal arm and a substan tially vertical arm, a knife-edge fulcrum bearing to receive dowmvard strain upon the horizontal lever arm, and a separate, linifeeedge fulcrum hearingto receive horizontal strain upon the vertical lever-arm, the fulcrum edges of said rnifeedge bearings beingin ali n5 out along a cor men axis,one of-said'fulcr m rings ccmpi mg similar separated parts crum hearing along said comm-on axis;

16. In a weighing device or'seale, n comhination, a weiglit transmittmg.lever having oppositely-directed substantially horizontal arms and a substantially vertical arm an d subto relatively variable vertical and horizontal strains upon its fulcrum, a knife-ed fulcrum bet 'ing to receive the vertical stra a, and a separatei nite-edge.fulcrum bearing receive the horizontalstrain, the fulcrum l-Lmfeedge hearings being in.

, zontal arm, said lever being provided with a downwardly projecting knife-edge and with a second km "e-cdge projecting substantially horizontally iwardly in relation to said horizontal lever-arm", said knifeed'ges forming fulcrum edges having a common axis, one of said knife-edgesbeing in separated parts and the other said knife-edge being located be-' tween said separated parts along said common axis and a hem-mg stand or bracket havmg a hor zontal fulcrum surface upon wluch said downwardly projecting knife-edge fulerums and having a vertically disposed fulcrum surface upon which said horizontally PlOJGCtlDg f -edge iulcrums, one of said fulcrum surfaces being in separated parts along; said com-- mon axis and he other fulcrum surface being located between said separated partsiof the separated part fulcrum surface along said axis, the separated part knife-edge being fulerumed upon the separated-part fulcrum surface. c

18. In a weighing device or scale, in combination, a hearing; stand or bracket having thereon at least three fulcrum surfaces, said fulcrum surfaces being arranged alternately vertically and horizontally along a common axis, a weight-transmitting lever havmg an disposed at oppositesides of'the other f'ul upstanding arm and a substantially horizonarm, knife-edge .blo'chs mounted upon said lever and corresponding in number and ar 'rangement with said fulcrum surfaces so as to cooperate therewith, said knife-edge blocks 7 having theirhnife-edges projecting inwardly from the respective lever-arms towards said common axis, and means providing for ad- 'ustin D118 lZIllfE-QCTH O blocks to brin their t) \J b iLilS.

19. in a wei hing device or scale, in com-1 binatioma he; ring stand or bracket having thereon at least three fulcrumsurfaces, said fulcrun'r surfaces being arranged alternately vertically and horizontallyalong a common axis, a weight transmitting lever having an upstanding arm and a substantially horizon tal arm, knifaedge blocks mounted upon sald lever and correspondmg'in number and arrangementwith said fulcrum surfaces so as to cooperate therewith, said knife-edge bloc (3 having their knife-edges projecting inwardly from the respective lever-arms towards said common axis, each of the knife-edge blocks being slidably mounted for radial adjustment, thrustscrewsto slidethe knife-edge:

blc {S inward to bringtheirknife-edges into alignment at said common ELXlS, and clamp screws for clamping the knife-edge blocks firmly in place. v

20. ll]. a weighing device or scale having a weighing platform, a bell-crank lever at one fife-edges into alignment at said common end of the platform havinga substantiallyf horizontal weigh-'carrying arm and a substantially vertical arm, a linl; connecting the adjacent end of the platform to said horizontal lever arm, three-armed lever at the other end of the platform having a substantially vertical arm and oppositely extending substantially'horizontal arms one of which is a weight-carrying arm extending in the same direction asthe weight-carrying arm of said bell-crank lever,-a link connecting the ZIClJZV, cent end of the platform to tl1e3ve1ght-carry-f ing arm of the three-armed lever, linlrconnectmg the vertical arms of said levers, a

weigh-beam, and connections between the" weiglrbeam and the remaining horizontal arm of the three-armed lever; the combination of a knife-edge fulcrum bearing for said bell-crank lever to receive the downward strain upon the weight-carrying arm thereof, a separate knife-edge fulcrum bearing for said bell-cranklever to receive the horizontal strain of said lever-connecting link upon its vertical arm, the fulcrum edges of said knifeedge bearings being in axialalignment; a kmfecdge fulcrum bearing for said threearmed lever to receive the downward strain upon its horizontal lever arms, and a separate knife-edge. fulcrum bearing for said threearmed lever to receive the horizontal strain of said lever-connecting link upon its vert1oal arm, the fulcrum edges of said knife-edge bearings for the three-arm lever being 111 axial alignment.

21. In a cane hoisting and weighing device having a frame forming a tower, a Weighing platform at thetop of the tower, means for hoisting a load of cane so that it will be suspended from the platform and the Weight borne thereby, said means providing for traversing the hoisted load longitudinally of the platform, a pair of bell-crank levers at one end of the platform fulcrumed upon the top of the tower upon fulcrum axes transverse to the length of the platform, each of said levers having an upstanding leverarm and a substantially horizontal lever-arm, a platform-supporting suspension-link connecting the horizontal lever-arm to the adj acent corner of the platform, a pair of threearmed levers at the other end of the plat-.

form fulcrumed upon the top of the tower upon fulcrum axes transverse to the length of the platform, each of said three-armed levers having an upstanding arm and oppositely projecting substantially horizontal arms, so that one of said horizontal arms of the threearmed lever projects towards the correspond ing bell-crank lever, a platform-supporting suspension-link connecting the latter leverarm to the adjacent corner of the platform, a

link connecting the upstanding arm of each of the three-armed levers to the upstanding arm of each of the corresponding bell-crank levers, a Weighing scale, and a pair of links connecting the scale to the remaining horizontal arms of the three-armed levers; the combination of a knife-edge fulcrum bearing for each of said bell-crank levers to receive the downward strain upon the horizontal arm, a separate knife-edge fulcrum bearing for each of said bell-crank levers to receive the horizontal strain of the lever-connecting linl: upon the upstanding arm of the bell-crank lever, the knife-edges of said bearings being in axial alignment, a knife-edge fulcrum bearing for each of said three-armed levers to receive the downward strain upon its horizontal arms, and a separate knife-edge fulcrum bearing for each of said three-armed levers to receive the horizontal strainof the lever-connecting link upon the upstanding arm of the threearmed lever, the knife-edges of the fulcrum bearing for the three-armed lever being in axial alignment.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification this 14th day of February, 1923.

HORACE F. RUGGLES. 

